Will The Circle Be Unbroken

 

Will The Circle Be Unbroken

The year was 1969 and nearly twenty years of Northport living was behind me. I was now married with one child and living in an upstairs apartment at 101 Main Street, a building my parents owned. We were one of their tenants and they lived in their "loft apartment" in the same building. It was winter and I had a nasty "Nyquil" cold". As I prepared to turn-in that night around 10:00 PM, I blew my nose and produced a torrent of blood, something that was not all too unfamiliar for me since I had a pretty strong history of bloody noses going all the way back through childhood. What made this event different was that this time, I was unable to stop the bleeding. My young wife, Jessie tried to help but to no avail, so she summoned my mother who had dealt with my bloody noses throughout my upbringing. Mom came right over and applied all of her historic expertise in an attempt to stop the bleed, but she too, was unsuccessful. Time was of essence and if we were going to stop this hemorrhage, it would require the help of the Northport Fire Department Rescue Squad! Jessie made the call, and I could hear the sirens as they rushed down Main Street.

In a very short time, the well-known townsman, Mr. Fred Piercey and his rescue squad partner arrived with their gurney followed by the Northport Police Department. On duty that night was the cop we always called "Wyatt Earp" who wore pegged pants, a low-riding gun belt, hat pulled down over his eyes and a swagger-walk to match. I never did know his real name, but his nick-name reflected his demeanor. Mr. Piercey and his partner loaded me onto the gurney and carried me out into the hall of that two-story walk-up and at the landing, they had to make a sharp 180 degree turn, handing the whole kit and caboodle over the guard rail to address the downward stair slope. This would require a little extra muscle and Wyatt was there to pitch in. As I watched the ceiling rotate 180 degrees, an audible rrrr-i-ppp was heard and the fireman (rescue team) broke out in laughter. Wyatt Earp had ripped his pegged pants and bruised his ego all in one motion. I think the NFD and the NPD had a little competitive thing going back then.

I was whisked down the stairs and loaded into the back of their shiny 1958 Cadillac ambulance that the NFD kept in such good condition. For the first time in my life, I wasn't watching the show; I was the show. Mr. Piercey and his partner wasted no time in getting me secured, fired up that Cadillac and headed for Huntington Hospital in full lights and sirens regalia. In no time, we were at the Emergency Room where they packed my nose, a painful procedure that still rings horror in my memory. They released me that night and by the time we collected all of our composure and return transportation arrangements, it was probably around 2 or 3 in the morning. When I got home, I went right to bed and continued to bleed all night.

At daybreak, Jessie and I stumbled to our '62 Chevy with the idea of returning to the hospital to complete this failed medical procedure. Mr. Piercey, who incidentally was a neighbor, saw us backing out and came over to inquire about my well-being. When he discovered I was still bleeding, he went ballistic. Jessie and I continued on to the hospital where they finally stopped the bleeding, but in the meantime, Fred Piercey was steaming. He drove down there that afternoon on his own time and raised Hell. The hospital had failed the very people that the NFD Rescue Squad served, and he let them know that without a stutter!

Northport once was a working town, where everyone rallied as community. For better or for worse, we were all family and through our scrapes and disagreements, we all cared for each other. Mr. Piercey was an unsung hero who helped forge the template for humble giants who came after him. Just a working guy, doing what he did for the public good taking life in stride without fanfare. It really wasn't until nine-eleven that we all realized the full-depth, importance and commitment of first responders, but the fact is..........they've been around for a long time. Now, in the year 2020, the Coronavirus has taken center stage in the theater of our well-being. The next generation of heroes have stepped up. Will the circle be unbroken?

Thanks, Fred and may you rest in peace.